Plume of Ash from Mount Etna, Italy – April 13th, 2013

A plume of ash billows forth from the caldera of Mount Etna, on the Italian island of Sicily, and blows due southeastward over the Mediterranean Sea. According to ground reports, the volcano has experienced a series of paroxysms with lava fountains since the first week of April, and is now also experiencing vulcanian activity – truly explosive activity characterised by a dense cloud of ash-laden gas exploding from the crater and rising high above the peak. These are not something normally seen on Etna where ‘Strombolian’ activity is more common.